Air-separator



T. J. STURTEVANT.

AIR SEPAHATOR.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 14, i920.

Patented May 17, 1921.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

Inventor.

T. J. STURTEVANT.

AIR SEPARATOR.

-APPLlCATlON FILED JUNE I4. 1920.

Patented May 17, 1921.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2- [nvento any.'

T. J. STURTEVANL AIR SEPARATOR.

APPLICATlON FILED JUNE 14| 1920.

' LSSG. Patented May 17, 1921.

s SHEETS-SHEET 3.

[n vento?? STES l PTENT' OFFICE.

THOMAS J. ST'URTEVANT, OF WELLESLEY, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO STURTE- VANT MILL COMPANY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSA- oHUsETTs.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, THOMAS J. STURTE- VANT, a citizen of the United States, residing at lVellesley, in the county of Norfolk and State cfg-Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Air-Separators, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like characters on the drawings representing like parts.

The invention to be hereinafter described relslites to air separators for grading materia s.

A separator of this type usually comprises a separating chamber and a collecting chamber communicating through upper and lower openings, a fan for causing an air current to circulate through said chambers and openings so that the current rises in the separating chamber and descends in the collecting chamber. The materials to be graded are introduced into the path of the rising air current in the separating chamber. The smaller particles or fines are carried upward with the rising air current over into the collecting chamber and are delivered through an outlet, while the heavier particles or vtailings gravitate downward in the rising current in the separating chamber and are delivered through another outlet.

. A problem in these separators is to prevent the fines which fiow down through the collecting chamber from returning with the air current into the separating chamber. One of the purposes of the present invention is to provide means for promoting a whirl of the air as it passes downward through the collecting chamber and enters the separating chamber, thereby to develop a centrifugal effect on the particles which will tend to cause them to move outward adjacent to the .inner surface of the outer wall of the collecting chamber, and thereby tend to prevent the particles from being carried by the air current from the collecting chamber back into the separating chamber.

Another purpose of the invention is to provide means for deflecting or directing the coarser particles or tailings in a path Such that they may beswept by the air current returning from the collecting cham- Specification of Letters Patent.

AIR-SEPARATOR.

Patented May 17, 1921.

Application filed .Tune 14, 1920. Serial N0. 388,728.

ber into the separating chamber. This will enable lighter particles which may have been carried down through the separating the materials delivered into the separator and for throwing the same outward into the path of the air current moving upward through the separating chamber, said distributer having provision for preventing entrance of dust to the driving mechanism therefor. As a consequence, this mechanism is effectively protected, and the life thereof is desirably prolonged.

lVith the aforesaid and other objects in view, the character of the invention may be best understood by reference to the following description of one good form thereof shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure l is a vertical longitudinal section through an air separator embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section showing the casing supports;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken on y line 3-3 of Fig. l;

Fig. 4 is a detail to be referred to; and

Fig.v 5 is a section taken on line 5-5 of F ig. l. l y

Referring to the drawings, the air separator shown therein as one good form of the invention, comprises an outer casing l including a cylinder 3 and a cone 5 depending therefrom. The top of the casing is provided with a head 7 conveniently made of sections provided with upstanding flanges 9 riveted together, thereby to contribute-to the stiffness of the head. The lower end of the casing is provided with a discharge outlet 11 through which the fines may bel to angle bars 15 extending longitudinallyof and secured to the cone 5, said feet being adapted to rest on beams or other appropriate support.

Mounted within the outer casing is an inner casing 17 comprising a cylinder 19, an upper cone 21 and a lower cone 23.

flange 25 is secured to and projects outr ward from the upper edge of the cone21. The casing 17 isy spaced a substantial distance from the outer casing 1, thereby providing an inner or separating chamber 27, and an outer or collecting chamber 29.

Beneath and spaced from the inner casing is an inner cone 31 having an outlet 33 communicating with a chute 35 entered through the cone 5 referred to, and adapted to deliver the coarser particles from the separating chamber, as more fully hereinafter described. f

An important feature of the invention, as stated, comprises means for promoting a whirleffect of the air as it passes from the collecting chamber into the separating chamber. This means, in the present instance of the invention, comprises a series of vanes or valves 37 having flanges 39 and 41 at the upper and lower ends thereof. The upper flanges may be connectedby rivets with an angle ring 43 secured to the lower cone 23 of the inner casing. The lower flanges 41 may be connected by bolts 45 with a ring 47 secured to the upper edge of the inner cone 31 referred to. The construction is such that these vanes may be independently adjusted on the rivets and the bolts 45 as fulcra to vary the positions of said vanes 'and regulate the openings and whirl producing effect of said vanes as desired. The vanes may be secured in their positions of adjustment by tightening the bolts 45. These vanes may not only serve to produce a desirable whirl effect in the air as it passes from the collecting chamber, but also to support the inner casing 17 from the inner cone 31.

Suitable means may be provided to support the inner cone 31, in the present instance, comprising channels or uprights 47 having their lower ends secured to the outer casing cone 5 and the longitudinal angle bars 15, and their upper ends secured to the inner cone 31 and angle bars 49 extending longitudinally thereof.

Suitable means may be provided to intro- 50 duce the materials to be graded into the separator.v To accomplish this, in the present instance, a mouth 51 may be provided having a flange 53 secured tothe head 7, and a flange 55 depending through an opening in said head. A feed tube 57 has its upper end secured, to the flange 55 and projects downward a substantial distance into the separating chamber. l.

Suitable means may be provided to receive the'materials admitted into the sepa-rating chamber through the tube 57, and serve to deliver the materials into the path of the air current rising through the separating chamber. This means, in the present instance, comprises a rotary distributer having a plate 59 provided with a hub 61 projecting upward therefrom with a tapered bore fitting on the taperedvupper end portion 63 of a vertical or upright shaft 65. lA ring plate 67 may be mounted on the plate 59 and be detachably secured thereto by bolts 69. The construction is such that materials flowing through the tube 57 will fall onto the rotary distributing plate 59 and be thrown outward therefrom under the influence of centrifugal force into the path of the air current rising through the separating chamber.

The rotary distributer shaft 65 may be l journaled in upper and lower spiral roller bearings 71 and 73 and in a casing 75 for the shaft, and the lower end of said shaft may be j ournaled and may rest on a step bearing 77 rectangular in crosssection and receiving a similarly shaped block 79 supported on an adjusting screw 81 threaded in the lower end of the casing. Mounted on said block is a disk 83 having a conical stud `85 projecting upward therefrom vand fitting into -a similarly shaped bore 87 in the lower end ofthe shaft.

Suitable means may be provided to prevent entrance of dust into the shaft casing y 75. To accomplish this, in the present instance, said casing is provided with a-cap 89 having a neck 91 projecting upward therefrom into a counterbore 93 in the hub 61. j

A series of rings 95 of felt or other suitable packing material may engage the neck 91 and be held in a counterbore 97 lin the hub by a ring plate 99. An angle ring 101 and the ring plate 99 are secured to the distributer plate 59 by bolts 103. The angle ring 101 has a depending flange fitting the upper end of the shaft casing 75, and tends to prevent dust from working up betweenk said angle ring and casing. If any dust should work up therebetween, the packing rings 95 will tend to prevent the dust from working up beyond the neck 91 to the shaft 65. To further protect the casing against ingress of dust therein, a series of rings 105 of felt or other suitable material may be mounted in a counterbore in the upper end of the casing 75 and be confined by the Cap 89.

The lower portion of the shaft casing 75 may be constituted by a boX 107 secured to the upper portion of the casing by bolts 109. A circular cap 111 may be detachably secured to one side of said box to enable ready access to the interior thereof.

To rotate the shaft 65, it may have a bevel gear 113 fast thereon meshing with a bevel i,

gear 115 fast on a horizontal shaft 117 journaled in a bearing 119 having a flange 121 secured to the side of the box 107 opposite the cap 111, said bearing beingprovided with spiral rollers 123 to reduce friction. The horizontal shaft may also be journaled in a bearing 125 secured to an angle collar Suitable means may be provided to support the shaft casing. To accomplish this, in the present instance, brackets 135 may be provided having flanges secured to the conel 31 and the longitudinal angle bars 49, and having flanges secured to an outstanding fiange 137 on the box 107.

' Any suitable4 means may 'be provided to cause an air current to circulate through the separating and collecting chamber. This means, in the present instance, is in the form of a fan 139 having a hub 141 connected to arms 143 connected in turn to fan blades 145. This fan, in the present instance, is mounted in the space between the fiange 25 at the upper end of the inner casing, and the head 7 of the outer casing, and the'hub 141-encircles the tube 57 for feeding the materials to be graded into the separator. The hub 141 has a fiange 147 depending therefrom secured to a sleeve shaft 149 encircling the tube 57. The lower end of said sleeve shaft is securedto the upper flange 151 of a hood 155 connectedby bolts 157 with the distributer plate 59, said hood being held in spaced relation with respect to said late by spacing sleeves 159 on said bolts. rojecting outward from the hood 155 in opposi-A tion to the ring plate 67 referred to, is a ring plate 161 detachably connected to the hood by bolts 163.

The construction is such that the rotary distributer, the hood, the sleeve shaft and the fan will all be rotated by the upright shaft 65, and the materials delivered by the tube 57 down to the rotary distributer plate will be thrown outward between the ring plates 67 and 161 under the influence of centrifugal force int'o the path of the air current rising through the separating chamber.

To protect the cylinder 19 of the inner casing against wear from the bombardment of the materials thrown outward toward the same by the rotary distributer, a baffle plate 165 may be provided comprising sections detachably secured by bolts 167 to the cylinder 19. The construction is suchthat when these baffle plates become worn, they may be readily removed and others substituted therefor.

- As stated, one feature of the invention is the provision of means for promoting or developing a whirl of the air current down through the collecting chamber. A means for this purpose, in the present instance,

comprises a series of vanes 169 extending transversely of the collecting chamber and desirably located adjacent the upper end thereof beneath the fan. In the present instance, these vanes are on substantially the same level as the outstanding flange 25 of the inner casing. These vanes 169 may be secured by bolts 171 to horizontal shafts 173 journaled in bearings 175 in brackets 177 mounted on the outer casing. Cranks179 may be provided fast on the. outer ends of the shafts 173, and be provided with hand screws '181 adapted to be selectively connected to tapped holes 183 in the bracket 177. The construction is such that the cranks may be rocked to adjust or set the vanes 169 With any inclination desired, to vary the whirl effect imparted to the air current entering the collecting chamber. The vanes mayv have' areas such that when adjusted to horizontal position they will' substantially close the space between the outer edge of the flange 25 and the outer casing. The vanes may be set at angles to serve not only to promote the whirl effect of the air current, but also to v ary the strength of the air current flowing down through the collecting chamber.

The vanes 169 will desirably coperate with the vanes 37 referred to,'for controlling the whirl of the air current down through the collecting chamber. The fan causesthe air current to whirl, the vanes 169 contribute to-the whirl effect as the air current leaves the fan, and the vanes 37 promote the whirl of the air current as it passes from the collecting chamber back into the separating chamber. This whirling air current tends to cause the finer particles to move outward under the infiuence of centrifugal force, so that in their descent through the collecting chamber they will pass along and closely adjacent to the outer casing, and thus the whirling air current tends to prevent return of the finer particles from the collecting chamber back into the separating chamber.

A delecting member, in the present in stance, in the form of a cone 185 may be mounted on the shaft casing 75 and flare upward toward the periphery of the distributer ring 67, and thereby serve to deflect the air current moving upward through the separat'- ing chamber outward past the deliveryedge of the rotary distributer so as to act on the materials delivered therefrom ywith eflicient effect. l

A defiector member, in the present instance in the form of a cone187 may be mounted on the shaft casing 75 and flare downwardly into the upper end portion of the inner cone 31. The location of this vdeupon and be deiected outward by said cone.

The air current sweeping inward between the openings 37 will sweep across the'materials flowing down along the deflecting cone 187, and any fines carried down by the tailings may be separated therefrom and lifted upward through the separating chamber with the rising air current.

To enable ready access to the parts within the outer casing, a door v189 may be provided in the outer casing, and a door 191 may be provided in the inner cone 31.

f greater access is desired to the parts within the separator than afforded by said v doors, the cylinder 3 ofthe outer casing may be detached from the cone 5 and lifted therefrom, the fan arms 143 may be disconnected from the fan hub 41, and the bolts 45 may be released to allow the inner casing and the vanes 37 to be lifted from the inner cone 31.

The rings 161 and 67 of the hood and disvtributer respectively .may be readily removed to facilitate the removal of parts.

It is desirable to prevent, so far as possible, ingress of air with the materials fed into the separator. To this end the feed tube 55' referred to, may be of a size appro- 4priate for feeding the maximum amount of material, and cones such as the cone 193 may be provided having a flange adapted to rest on the upper edge of the tube. j The cone may be selected of the properl size for the feed desired and be readily inserted in position in thel feed tube. This'will allow a minimum amount of'air to be carried with the materials through the feed tube into the separator.

It will be noted that the channels or uprights 47 are located well down in thepassage between the outer and inner cones 5 and 31 so as to avoid obstruction to the collecting chamber, They also tend-gradually to prevent whirl of the particles after leaving the air current, and thereby promote settling of the particles to the discharge outlet. The supports are secured t'o the angle bars 15 which in a sense are hangers depending from the feet 13 which support the outer casing, andqthe brackets 135.supporting the gear casing are secured to the upper ends of the channel supports. Thus simple, strong and efficient means is provided for supporting the outer casing, the inner casing and the gear casing.

Since the upper vanes may be independently adjusted and secured, they may be held at different angles if desired, and in some instances all of them may be closedto their horizontal positions with the exception of one or two. In this case the air and materials would be whirled through theo passage aflorded by the number of vanes thus opened.

The primary purpose of the upper vanes --f'f'zfis to regulate the strength of the air curj both of said openings, and means to set said rent preferably closely adjacent to the fan. The lower vanes would be set at angles to Y produce 'the maximum eficiency of whirl.

It will be understoodthat the invention is not limited to the specific embodiment shown, and that various deviations may be made therefrom without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is 1. An air separator comprising outer and inner casings providing communicating separating and collecting chambers having upper and lower openings between them, means to introduce materials to be graded into the separating chamber, means to cause a current of air to circulate up through the separating chamber and down through the collecting chamber and carry the finer materials separated into the collecting chamber, whirl promoting vanes adjacent the upper opening of the collecting chamber, and whirl promoting vanes adjacent the lower opening of the collecting chamber.

2. An air separator comprising a casing having inner and outer chambers therein with upper and lower openings between them, means to cause an air current to circulate through said openings and chambers, passing through one chamber and down through the othery chamber, means to introduce materials to be graded into the path of the air current passing through one of said chambers, vanes for promoting a whirl of the air current and particles adjacent vanes in different positions of adjustment to vary the effect of said vanes on the air current.

3. An air separatorcomprising separating and collecting chambers having upperv and lower. openings between them, means to produce an air current circulating through said chambers and openings, passing up through the separating chamber and down through the collecting chamber, means to introduce materials to be graded into the path of the `rising air current, whirllpromoting vanes adjacent said upper opening, and whirl promoting vanes adjacent said lower opening, said vanes being arrangedto impart a whirling motion to the air current as it passes down through said chamber.

4. An air separator comprising separating and collectingv chambers having upper and lower openings between them, means to produce an air current circulating through said chambers and openings, passing up through the separating ,chamber and down through the collecting chamber, means to introduce materials to be graded into the path of the rising air current, adjustable whirl promoting vanes adjacent said upper l opening, and adjustable whirl promoting vanes adjacent said v lowerv opening, said vanes being arranged to impart a whirling l motion to the air current as it passes down through said chamber.

5. An air separator comprising separating and collecting chambers having upper and lower openings between them, means to cause an air current to circulate through said chambers and openings, passing up through the separating chamber and down lthrough the collecting chamber, means to introduce materials to be graded into the path of the air current within the separating chamber, and a series of downwardly extended vanes adjacent the upper opening and extending transversely thereof for promoting a whirl of the air current as it passes down -through the collecting chamber t0- ward said lower opening.

6. An air separator comprising separating and collecting chambers having upper and lower openings between them, means to cause an air current to circulate through said chambers and openings, means to introduce materials to be graded into the path of the air current passing through the 'separating chamber, a series of shafts projecting transversely'of said collecting chamber, a series of vanespon said shafts, and means on said shafts `for rocking and securing said shafts in different positions of adjustment.

7. An air separator comprising outer and inner casings providing separating and collecting chambers, means to cause a current of air to circulate through said chambers,

passing up through the separating chamber,

and down through the collecting chamber a rotary distributer on an upright shaft in said separating chamber, means to introduce materials to said distributer, and'oppositely inclined deiecting members, one for directing the rising air current toward the periphery of the rotary distributer, and the other for directing the materials gravitating through the separating chamber into the path of the air current entering the separating chamber from the collecting chamber.

8. An air separator comprising outer and inner casings providing separating and collecting chambers having openings between them, means to cause a current of air to c1rculate through said chambers and' openings, a rotary distributer in the separating chamber, means to introduce materials to be graded to the rotary distributer, means to deflect the air current outward las it rises in the separating chamber, and means to deiect the tailings into the path of the-.air

current entering the separating chamber',

bers, a rotary distributer having an upright shaft, drive means below the distributer to rotate said shaft, a casing for said drive means, reinforcing bars for said outer and inner casings, and brackets connected to said reinforcing bars for supporting the outer casing and for supporting the inner casing and the gear casing from the outer casing.

l1. An air separator for grading materials comprising separating and collecting chambers having upper and lower openings between them, a fan for causingy an air current to circulate through said chambers and openings, passing up through the separating chamber and down through the collecting chamber, means to introduce materials into the air current rising in the separating chamber, a series of vanes at the lower opening for promoting whirl of the air current, and a series of vanes disposed transversely of the collecting chamber adjacent the fan for promotingl whirl of the air current and regulating the strength of theair current.

12. Anair separator comprising separating and collecting chambers having upper and lower openings between them, means to cause an air current to circulate through said chambers and openings in a direction to pass up in the separating chamber and down in the collecting chamber, means to introduce materials to be graded into the path of the rising air current, normally fixed whirl promoting means adjacent the upper opening, and -Whirl promoting means adjacentj the lower opening. A l

13. An air separator comprising separatving and collecting chambers having upper and lower lopenings between them, means to cause an air current to circulate up through the separating chamber and down through the collecting chamber and through sald openings, means to introduce materials to 'be graded into the path of the rising air currentLwhirl promotlng vanes in and extending transversely to the collecting chamber, and means to set said'vanes in different positions of adjustment n air separator comprising separat-- outward in the separating chamber under the influence of centrifugal force, means to cause an air current to circulate through said chambers in a direction to pass up in 5 the separating chamber past the rotary distributer and down in the collecting chamber, means for promoting'a whirl of the air current as it entersY the separating chamber, and means located in the collecting chamber for promoting a Whirl of the air current as 10 it passes down in the collecting chamber.

In testimony whereof, .I have signed my name to this specification.

` `THOMAS J.' STURTEVANT. 

